PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GRADIENT REFRACTIVE-INDEX POLYMEROPTICAL RODS

Gradient refractive index (GRIN) polymer optical rods were fabricated by the swollen-gel polymerization technique. The mechanism and prepara tion conditions of the swollen-gel polymerization were investigated. T he effects of initiator concentration, swelling temperature, polymeriz ation temperature and monomer feed ratios on the optical properties of the GRIN polymer rods were studied. To reduce the swelling time, two different kinds of initiator were compared. The gradient refractive in dex profiles of the plastic rods were estimated. The image observed th rough the GRIN polymer rod was also examined. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.